Are you a pet parent and planning for a vacation trip soon? You must have plans to take your pet together as leaving your furry family member behind is not a good idea. But, no matter how excited you are about spending holidays with your pet, traveling with pets comes with its own set of concerns for their health and safety. A well-thought-out plan makes traveling with dogs and cats safe and enjoyable.
Take a look at a few helpful tips while you plan your travel with a pet:-
- Prepare your pet for travel
It is important to check the readiness of your pet before you plan to travel with pets. Whether it is a road trip or travel by flight, train or boat; their comfort is of utmost importance. If it is going to be a long road trip, take your pet out on shorter trips in the town before the actual intended travel. Observe their behavior and see if they get motion sickness. This can help you train your pet for longer trips and take precautions to avoid sickness during travel.
- Consult a veterinarian before travel
Your veterinarian is well aware of your pet’s medical history. Taking their advice and assistance helps you in ensuring your pet’s good health during the travel. Moreover, you may need a health certificate or vaccination certificate (especially for rabies) in case of international travel. Your vet can help you in meeting pet travel regulations requirements.
- Feed small meals well before travel time
Give food to your pet three to four hours prior to the actual travel time. If your pet has motion sickness, avoid feeding them during road trips. Take a stoppage and let them have food. A short stretching or poo breaks will also help in avoiding stomach upsets.
- Keep a kit of pet travel essentials handy
While traveling with pets, prepare yourself well for all their needs. You may not find suitable food on the way. Ready a travel kit that has enough food, food and water bowls, waste bags, toys that can keep your buddies occupied, your pet’s regular treatments, documents to meet pet travel regulations, and some travel anxiety relief treatments. Give your pet bottled water to avoid digestive problems.
- Microchip your pet & make them wear an ID tag
No matter how alert you are, your pet may get out of your eyesight during travel. As a part of a pet travel safety measure, you can implant a microchip on your pet having all the important information before travel. Also, make them wear a collar with an ID tag that mentions the address of your house, the address of the temporary vacation stay and your phone number so that the one who finds your pet can trace you.
- Keep your pet restrained during travel
If you are traveling by car, having your pet in the front seat can distract you. Their hopping around from front to back seats can make driving with concentration difficult. Your pet can also get injured in case of an accident. As an important pet travel safety measure, therefore, it is required that your pet stays inside a spacious carrier, with a protection belt around while traveling. Comfortable carriers can also be used if you are traveling by flight or train.
- Tire the pets before travel
A drained-out pet settles easily and stays calm for a longer duration. Take them out on brisk walks or make them exercise rigorously before your planned travel. A tired pet is less likely to get anxious or restless.
- Keep the pets occupied
If it is going to be a long journey, make sure your dog does not get bored. Keeping their favorite toys together will help them stay occupied. They also feel comfortable with familiar things in unfamiliar surroundings. Bring some new toys to keep them excited. In the case of road trips with pets, taking a stop at a pet park on the way will make them happy and they will stay calm during the journey.
Ending note
Vacation is the best time to bond with family, and pets are a part of the family. But, traveling with pets is not easy. In order to keep your four-legged friend safe and still make the journey enjoyable for both of you, it is required to prepare a pet-friendly travel plan. Right from the mode of travel to the vacation stay, checking the safety and acceptability of pets in advance helps in making sure that you and your pet both create life-long memories together..
